Posts Tagged 'american idol'

For those of you who don’t know, Tuesday night was the showing of American Idol Gives Back — an overall attempt for hedonistic activism, but nonetheless a noble cause. I had only watched part of it, but it mostly consisted of the remaining 8 contestants singing feel-good songs, showing celebrities vouching to raise money for certain causes, and videos of actual celebs visiting certain areas (Miley Cyrus, Brad Pitt, etc.) and helping out. I must say that, watching the rich and the famous prance around in their $$$ outfits and designer glasses while trying to reach out is amusing (in the satirical way) in itself.

I didn’t find out this until later, when I read a Joshua Harris’ reflection of the night, that the last song sung was Shout to the Lord (an original Darlene Zschech/Hillsong song). But, instead of the normal first line “My Jesus, My Savior,” American Idol had changed it to, “My Shepherd, My savior.” Now, I’m still not really quite sure why this was done, because 1. In a failed attempt to be PC, it’s pretty clear which Savior you’re talking about when the next line says, Lord there is none like You. And, 2. The producers know that right after the showing, you’re going to get evangelical christians nation-wise asking themselves, where did the Jesus go?? (A question I ask myself often when looking into the media/culture today..)

But that’s not it. On Wed. night, American Idol started the show off again with Shout to the Lord — except this time, with the correct lyrics of My Jesus, My Savior.

This whole American Idol controversy has already stirred up a good mount of debate on both the Christian and non-Christian fronts, which tend to revolve around, “i feel so offended… why does American Idol want to convert me?!” to, “…. How could they leave out Jesus?? Is American that pagan?” For more thoughtful critiques, feel free to read Joshua Harris’ follow-up post, or Michael Giltz’s comments from the Huffington Post.

Now, for some of you, this whole matter might seem trite. I mean, it’s just using Jesus one night, and Shepherd another, right? They’re technically the same name for the same Savior, right? But… what is it about the name Jesus that is so seemingly daunting that a change to a sheep-herder would make it seem more innocuous? Why would producers let a unquestionably Christian song be sung on national television, only to offend those to whom it might appeal to?